He is that energetic guy, who posed challenge in his teens, to the entire batsmen who faced his throw at the Ernakulam Cricket Club, the multifaceted talent who loves cricket to the core, the one and only Sree Santh. He believes in being true to self, be it in field or among family and friends. IIK is happy to share the moments we spent with him when he arrived here in Kuwait as the chief guest for Kuwait Kerala Premier League Finals, last week.

IIK: Welcome to Kuwait and happy to meet you here Sree Santh, or rather, is it “Sree”? On a lighter note, I have seen your name written in different formats. What is that confusion on your name, for those who writes about you?

SREE: Thank You for the warm welcome extended. My father is Mr. Santhakumaran Nair and actually my name is Sree Santh, with a space in between ‘Sree’ and ‘Santh’, where ‘Sree’ is my first name and ‘Santh’ specifies my father’s name. Many mistook it for ‘Sreesanth’ without a space in between and they added ‘S’ as my initial specifying my father’s name. Anyways, since it is my paternal name getting associated with me as initial, I don’t mind by which name am called with. But formally I am ‘Sree Santh’.

IIK: You have spent your childhood days with grandparents. Can you figure out their influence in you, your character, or your capacity to face the struggles of life that you went through?

SREE: Childhood memories are so rich with loving memories of both maternal and paternal grandmothers. They both were close to heart and of course they have influenced me. Their beliefs, rituals, tradition, character and life style, everything guided and shaped me as a person. The lessons they gave were on history, basic ethics, sincerity, honesty and importance of keeping blood relations, friendships, priority for studies, free time activities with strict limits and what not. Budding days at an innocent village atmosphere, where I was guided with love and affection, paved the strong foundation of my life by which I am now facing the ups and downs. It is that strong base that is carrying me through my hardships, maintaining the positive attitude.

IIK: Parents and sisters being involved and talented in art forms like dance, music and acting, how come you are into sports?

SREE: I too have an inclination towards art. But comparing to them I am no-where in the scene. Though good at studies, I was just an ordinary guy when it comes to arts, dance or music. There was a time when I literally tried my hand at everything to get trophies, for competing with the collection of my sisters, who had lots of them for their performances. I always wanted to excel in something different from my siblings. At the age of 6 or 7, fascinated by the fan followers of my brother at college who played cricket really well, I wanted to play cricket. It was during those days I started playing tennis ball cricket at a local school ground. The small trophies which I got there was the actual inspiration for playing cricket which gradually took serious form in me. One of my friends and well-wisher Mr. Jayan, who is now my partner at S36, suggested joining Ernakulam Cricket Club those days. Luckily, though with not much liking and consent, my parents supported my wish to play cricket.

IIK: What made you think of shifting to Bangalore at a very younger age of 9 or 10?

SREE: Basically it was Cricket and Dance that led me to Bangalore. When I was 9 years of age while playing Under 13 at District and Central Zone I got a ban for some mischief that I did, which could be easily ignored by giving a warning. But that was a blessing in disguise, which made me shift to Bangalore with a strong will to prove myself and play for India. Life was not easy there. The reluctance to accept a Keralite among them was strong and I decided to face that challenge.

IIK: Now looking back at the experience you got at grass root level, while playing under 13 or under 19, do you feel that it helped you in your career?

SREE: Those were the best time in my life. Along with the appreciation for my good performances which was supported by the image of someone who came from Bangalore after training, I got chances to play cricket for many clubs in and around Ernakulam. And I never left such a chance to go in vain, where I could play and watch senior guys playing. Even now, I strongly believe that it is the experience from tennis ball cricket that helped me in developing myself into a fast bowler. According to me after getting the basics from academy, one should start playing cricket in ground. That gives you the practical lessons which are hard to be taught by explaining in mere words.

IIK: What was your feeling when you touched the ground for the first time to play for India, were you tensed or was that a complete black out due to excitement?

SREE: Overriding the natural tension, I was excited, or rather over excited right at the news that I am going to play for India. My confidence level also was so good. For me, it was not just a dream come true moment, but was particularly the most awaited moment for which I was mentally and physically prepared to the core.

IIK: What was the reason for such a determination which even over rid the natural tension?

SREE: For explaining this I need to go a bit flashback. For me nothing came so easily. The hardships and obstacles which I faced was tremendous right from the beginning. Cutting long story short, at the age of 22, despite my good performance, I was nowhere in a position to stabilize myself in my career and the question of the moment was to continue or quit cricket. At that point I was tapped with a question from a person, whom I don’t want to name, whether I was planning to elope from the situation forgetting my earlier determinations. There I decide to try once more and managed to get a chance in Delhi. In the final match, by God’s grace and my persistence, I started bowling fast, and my spell was 6/8. And this, as I said earlier the right time intervene of the almighty, is the base for my entry to Indian team, the most excited entry as the 36th person to the camp. For me it was the answer for my hard work and desperate prayers and in that first match for India I had to prove my competency to all. That’s why I told, it was a much awaited moment and this itself is the reason for my confidence and excitement to override the expected tension.

IIK: We have seen you in the field in an aggressive outlook as well as completely emotional. Is that because the international cricketer Sree Santh is so sensitive?

SREE: First and foremost I am a human being and I have all the emotions. You have seen me aggressive and emotional, not because of me being sensitive, but being truly what I am and what I feel. I am a person who behaves as what I feel at that moment in the most realistic way, be it an excitement, anger or emotional. I believe in being true to the self, rather than controlling your emotions and acting in front of the public. Even when I talk to you now, I can only be real with no fake faces.

IIK: Is there any Good Omen |Superstition for you?

SREE: The word superstition itself is not acceptable. For me they are all beliefs, which go deep in us through life and everybody should have it. I too have such small but strong beliefs many like staring anything with right side, entering the ground with right leg, etc.

IIK: What is the most important factor that played in your favour all through the life?

SREE: I started my life in a small village like Kakkur where opportunities are rare. I was fortunate enough to h